(01-11-2021, 12:15 PM)Lucky2Last Wrote: Dang... just realized I used accept instead of except. That hurts. Every time I post from my phone, I cringe when I get a chance to read it later.

Trump has done nothing fascist. He's a nationalist populist. Those types of leaders can certainly be dangerous, but, with the possible exception of one speech, he's done nothing to warrant being associated with fascism, or tyranny, or authoritarianism. He's not tried to create an ethno-state, he's not subject to corporate influence, he's not tried to create a single party state. In fact, it's his opposition to corporate/establishment control that has brought him the most harm. He's largely limited himself to the framework of the constitution and respected the role the governors play in state affairs.

The thing I think most of the moderate liberals fail to grasp is that Trump is not creating a base from thin air. People already feel this way about the establishment, and he is just tapping into that sentiment. Removing Trump without reigning in the "attack" on that base is going to do nothing but get them more agitated. The "Purge," as it was referred to in a different post, reinforces the idea that conservatives are increasingly having their voice silenced. That's being done through power moves, not in the sphere of public opinion.

In his official acts, Trump has moved to place himself above investigation, and above the law. That was from the beginning.  "It's not illegal if the President does it." Then, on Wednesday, he tried to intimidate and perhaps even physically harm members of Congress to extend his term in office.
More importantly to my point, is his rhetoric from the beginning follows this pattern:
"Fascism first mythologizes, then seeks to restore, the alleged former glory of one nation, relative to other nations."

Fascist might not be the best word, but it fits better than most.

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